Review by troglobite

Posted:
31 Jan 2010, 07:47 (edited 21 Feb 10, 04:00)
For: PU-conductor CTF
Level rating: 4
Rating
4

Gameplay:4/10
Unfortunately, this level has rather weak gameplay. There are about five power-ups, I believe. However, they seem to just be randomly distributed, with a couple very powerful ones (seekers and rf’s) right near each other and in plain sight, while a more useless one (gun8) is hidden in a bizarre slot in a wall, where no one is likely to find it. Also, there are practically no events other than the power-ups. This means it is possible, that in a game with too many players, some may be stuck with nothing but a blaster. However, the respawn time isn’t particularly long, so this hopefully would not be a problem. The level also has a bit awkward placement of carrots, meaning if someone gets hurt, they’ll possibly have to hide or die. There is a full NRG near the middle, but it’s in a wall hidden behind layer 3, so trying to get it leaves the player too vulnerable. This will also almost certainly result in camping. There is also a +1 c in some vines in the middle, a bit higher up. However, these vines are a bit high off the ground, so spaz can get the carrot a lot easier than jazz, and I doubt lori could get the carrot at all, without a huge blind leap from the blue base. Also, the leftmost masked tiles of the vine do not have the vine event on them, which can lead to collisions that shouldn’t happen. There is another full NRG in the tube up to the blue base. This may throw off the balance between teams a bit though. Also, none of the carrots are generators, so players cannot heal nearly enough over the course of a full game. The level also has a total lack of paths. There is one way to get to each base. and one big flat-ish plain at the bottom of the level. There is no real choice as to where someone wants to go. The combined lack of ammo, well-placed carrots, and paths to choose from gives the level no strategic values as far as I can see, and lends itself to fairly plain gameplay. The red and blue both seem to be fairly even though, which is a plus.

Eyecandy: 6/10
The eyecandy is a bit rough in a few places, but generally good. Nothing stood out to me as brilliantly beautiful. I liked the choice of tileset. The main reasons I didn’t rate it higher is because much of the level looks rather synthetic and forces. Possibly my least favorite point is the set of platforms one must climb to reach the red base. at the bottom, there are some destruct block looking things that just look out of place. The rest of the platforms just kind of float there without anything indicating why they’re there. Also, the blue base is in the middle of a hideous collection of these destruct block type thing. There was an attempt to use layers other than 4, and the background is ok, if a bit boring, standard diamondous type. I dislike the foreground, because it seems to be there just so that there’s something in the foreground, but doesn’t look particularly pretty and seems like it doesn’t really belong. There were some nice touches in eyecandy though too. There were moths (a bit too many maybe, but still they added some variety), and a few lighting changes.

Event Placement:3/10
Events are few and far between here, and those that do exist are often not generators. There is essentially no ammo, and the power-ups are either too obvious and near other power-ups, or too hard to find. Please don’t hide power-ups in holes in the wall behind layer 3. Power-ups should be at least slightly visible, so people who are new to your level will know to look for them. Also, even the people who know they exist will not know if one is still there when they check. People will waste time looking for the bouncy power-up or the full NRG if someone’s already grabbed it before them, and players will end up spending time kicking a wall in a narrow slot in hopes that they’ll hit it when it appears, resulting in some awkward, nasty camping.

Penalties: -1/0
Your upload does not include the tileset used, the music, or the next level. While I happened to have the tileset and music, and plus fixes the nonexistent next level, not everyone will have the same experience, and it’s quite possible several people who download this will end up having it crash on them because of these problems. Also, it would have been nice if you had converted it to 1.23, but I’m not going to take off another point for that.

Overall: 4+6+3-1=12
12 out of 30 possible points =4.0/10 (rounded up)

Unfortunately, I don’t find this level very playable. Please take note of what I have written, and consider it next time you make a level. Also, no amount of written advice will help you improve as much as 1. making more levels, and 2. looking at levels you enjoy. #1 is pretty obvious. Just like with everything else, practice makes perfect. Don’t be discouraged if your levels don’t get the ratings you want, and don’t stop because other people don’t appreciate what you’ve done so far. Just keep making them anyway. #2 is probably what helped me most in my level making. Play jazz a lot. Figure out what your favorite levels are. Figure out why they are your favorite levels. Then make levels that have qualities you like. For example, I like Gauntlet. I like it because there are multiple different ways to heal (2 normal carrots or one full health carrot), and therefore camping isn’t as common. I like it because there is enough ammo that I can shoot whenever I need to, but only if I pay attention and collect ammo when I’m running low. I like it because it’s got enough horizontal space that using rf’s can be useful even when they aren’t powered up. I’m not saying that you should simply copy chunks of your favorite levels, because this leads to boring, repetitive levels. Also, don’t get too stuck in a rut, and only make one type of level. Adding to my example earlier, I also like semi, in part because it just has one carrot. This leads to drastically different gameplay than Gauntlet, but different doesn’t imply better or worse, just different. Your goal isn’t to mash up levels you like, or get level making down to a formula where everything you do has the same number of carrots, same weapons on the map, and similar layouts. Your goal is to understand just what makes a level fun, and then be able to apply these ideas to your own creative works.

Review by Zoro

Posted:
31 Jan 2010, 02:41 (edited 18 Jun 11, 02:27)
For: PU-conductor CTF
Level rating: 4
Rating
N/A

It must be better if you make it to 1.23…
Search for J2L Convertor.
Oh, Trog, next level is not need if you using Jazz2+, but for users no Plus Jazz2, i recommend edit level and Next level, to filename of this lvl!
[EDIT]Sorry, wanted to say it long time: Good job with reviewing, Troglobite! :)

RecommendedQuick Review by snzspeed

Posted:
30 Jan 2010, 10:08
For: Garden Of The Dream Castle
Level rating: 7.6
Rating
7.5

its a decent level. it some very minor tilebugs but they manage to pass without noticing (atleast for me). only downside of this level is that its quite small. but everything else is fine :)

Review by FawFul

Posted:
29 Jan 2010, 23:11
For: Garden Of The Dream Castle
Level rating: 7.6
Rating
N/A

what does this level have to do with a garden..? :P

Review by Ron97

Posted:
29 Jan 2010, 18:19
For: Garden Of The Dream Castle
Level rating: 7.6
Rating
N/A

I don’t really know how to rate this. The eyecandy is nice,ammo placement nice,but the gameplay…? The gameplay isn’t horrible but it isn’t really great. Too small and open for normal battles,still open for duels… Still,the level doesn’t deserve a bad rating. I won’t rate it for now.

Review by Narsist

Posted:
29 Jan 2010, 16:03
For: Jungle 1.00g
Level rating: N/A
Rating
N/A

Good, good and good.
I can’t say anythig :)

RecommendedQuick Review by Narsist

Posted:
29 Jan 2010, 16:01
For: Carrastle
Level rating: 7.1
Rating
9.5

Good idea and good tileset!

Review by Narsist

Posted:
29 Jan 2010, 15:59
For: Waz Tilesets, 1.23 versions
Level rating: N/A
Rating
N/A

Super!

RecommendedQuick Review by alex_hr2000

Posted:
29 Jan 2010, 15:30 (edited 29 Jan 10, 17:36 by cooba)
For: Sernik Test.
Level rating: 8.5
Rating
10

AlexanderKacper100:
Test Is Good And Hard

[Review changed to quick review. – cooba]

RecommendedQuick Review by Narsist

Posted:
29 Jan 2010, 11:00 (edited 26 Jun 10, 09:50)
For: Garden Of The Dream Castle
Level rating: 7.6
Rating
7

I know it… :)
This is very good battle level.
I like it.

Quick Review by Shay497

Posted:
29 Jan 2010, 08:22 (edited 29 Jan 10, 11:55 by cooba)
For: Salvation,Vision,XX
Level rating: 7.6
Rating
N/A

ùìá ðçîã àðé àåäá àú äùìáéí ùìê

[Rating (10.0) clearance. – cooba]

RecommendedQuick Review by Narsist

Posted:
28 Jan 2010, 15:06 (edited 28 Jan 10, 19:14 by cooba)
For: 6 Pointless Diamondus Edits
Level rating: 8.6
Rating
9.7

Cool. Cool. And cool. :)
Recommended? Of course!

[Review changed to quick review. – cooba]

Review by Zoro

Posted:
27 Jan 2010, 23:20
For: Sernik Test.
Level rating: 8.5
Rating
N/A

FLYING.xm? huh…Looks like this is your favourite music! :P

Review by Mercurio

Posted:
27 Jan 2010, 19:24
For: Carrotus Winter Battle
Level rating: N/A
Rating
N/A

Wow… I made this. I had the magnificient age of 11 back then, so this level is crap. :) No use downloading it really.

Also I have no idea what [TN] stood for, nor what the password of the level was.

Review by alex_hr2000

Posted:
27 Jan 2010, 12:31 (edited 27 Jan 10, 14:24 by cooba)
For: Agony
Level rating: 8.9
Rating
N/A

(flag: gr)

AlexanderKacper100
Åßíáé Fun
Ôþñá Win Ï Ðáß÷ôçò
Ç Óýíäåóç êáé Zual Alpha

[Rating (10.0) clearance. – cooba]

Review by EvilMike

Posted:
27 Jan 2010, 02:44 (edited 27 Jan 10, 02:48)
For: War and violence
Level rating: N/A
Rating
N/A

I don’t even rememeber making this, and I have a pretty good memory for my levels. This is really, really weird.

Actually, now that I have given it a good look, I probably didn’t make it. My levels from 1999 are almost this bad, but the ones from mid-2000 are actually playable.

RecommendedReview by Zoro

Posted:
26 Jan 2010, 02:39 (edited 27 Jan 10, 02:40 by Crazy Rabbit)
For: Salvation,Vision,XX
Level rating: 7.6
Rating
7.7

Ok, now time for true one review.
Gameplay:
The idea is very good!
But one thing what i must say, this is these levels
is symmetrycal, and it makes me make rating lower…
But this symmetrycal system have Pros…
First and second teams have 50% on 50% chances
to win… :D
(8.5)
Ammo:
Hmm…What about ammo…
Ammo placement is not bad, but, amount of them…
Hmm…Okay, 8.4!
(8.4)
Music:
Nice choice, but musics not changes rating…
(N/A)
Tilesets:
What about tilesets, Vision and XX have
good choice…I like it…Really, but what about
BattleshipsBL.j2t, ya, i think 8.7!
(8.7)
Background:
Huh…Not bad but anyway, there’s
not much eyecandy (Vision and Salvation)…
But XX have good eyecandy
and i will increase rating… :)
(7.5)

Ok, Now what rating you will get

7.7 RATING
WITH DR…

Congratulations! xD

If you dont like this review, report me
or set against it, and i will delete it! :P

Review by RagE XR

Posted:
25 Jan 2010, 21:47
For: Training
Level rating: 8
Rating
N/A

Wow. Words can not describe how good this level is. It’s a true masterpiece of its time and a milestone in jj2 history. I have NO idea who this RoelofFBL is but he is supercool!

RecommendedQuick Review by Narsist

Posted:
25 Jan 2010, 20:01
For: Discofever (come and join the time:)
Level rating: 8.6
Rating
9.7

Cool 8)

RecommendedQuick Review by Narsist

Posted:
25 Jan 2010, 14:44
For: Inside MY mind!
Level rating: 5.7
Rating
9

very cool!!!

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